New Gear 2010
September 2, 2010
This is an update to an earlier 2008 post about my previous SD equipment setup.
Stepping up to HD
So finally I took the step up to HD video equipment with the Sony PMW EX1, Gates EX1 housing with 2 x 250W Green Force Squid HID lighting rig. Oh yeah, and I just had to go for the Fathom SWP44C Super Wide Port to top it off.
Having spent two years picking up some basic skills with the Panasonic AG-DVX100 and Equinox housing, it wasn’t until I got in the water with the new EX1 rig that I realised just how little about underwater videography I really knew… but also just what can be achieved when you step up the scale with your equipment.
The entire setup set me back around $23,000 which is well-below market value as I managed to get a great deal on some mint-condition used equipment from a great guy called Joe Holley (@ Marine Visions). For me that’s a great deal of cash but then again, now I have the type of rig that documentary professionals use when their main equipment fails…
Key Advantages
- Larger format with greater detail (obviously!) – larger market for selling online clips
- Better all-round vision with external HD monitor – beats squinting one-eyed through the housing
- Fantastic manual control positioning and operation – those Gates engineers are incredible
- Up to 60 frames-per-second for slower playback speed (only available with 720 HD format) – for that NatGeo look, well almost
- Record directly to SxS solid-state memory cards – no tape capturing needed!
- Far better low-light sensitivity reducing video noise and giving sharper footage
- Zoom through capability from 120 degree wide angle to full zoom with Fathom SWP44C port
- A LOT! of light with the Green Force 250 HIDs
And that’s just a small sample of the main benefits I’ve found so far – given the EX1’s capability for firmware and software upgrades, the menu feature options just keep expanding with every update.
The down-sides
- Damn its heavy! about 35lbs (16Kg) in total – try freediving with that and not get the jitters before you jump in
- Extra baggage costs – one-way long-haul extra is generally around $400 extra – almost worth flying business class for the extra baggage allowance, almost…
- Limited recording time on expensive SxS cards – about 2hr of footage on $1000 32GB card
- No focus depth bar indicator on external housing monitor – or at least I’m still trying to work it out (let me know if you have!)
- Customs… I’m now starting to attract the attention of customs officers at destination airports…
Footage samples
So far I’ve only an opportunity to get the equipment wet once during a trip to Turks & Caicos. You can see some low-res sample clips here:
www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=11856910
www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=11874918
www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=11886834
www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=11905586
www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=11908754
www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=11957744
Actually to be truthful, I did get the gear in the water during a trip to South Africa for the Sardine run (you can read more about that disaster here: The Truth about the Sardine Run) but only manage to get some semi-decent dry-land nature shoots:
www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=6760126
www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=6760107
Future gear thoughts
I’m pretty sure that what I’ve got now is going to keep me busy and satisfied for the next few years but if I was to be keeping an eye on developments for the future for my next kit upgrade, I’d be watching these two:
Red Epic: if Gates decide to do a housing for it that is
Canon EOS 5D Mk11: with Full HD video capabilities I think that digital still cameras are going to start getting interesting for underwater video work. It opens an interesting possibility of being able to do video and still with the same kit – if they can work out how to integrate flash strobe and video lighting in one unit. Certainly the lower weight and size looks attractive compared to schlepping my existing gear round the planet…
Red Scarlet: 2x higher quality video than HiDef for under $3,000?
June 9, 2008
There is a digital video revolution underway and RED are leading the way.
We’ve been keeping our eye on these guys from RED for some time since they launched a 4,000 pixel wide format digital video camera (that’s 9 mega-pixel video!!) for under $20,000. Although by the time you add lenses, tripods, digital storage and other accessories you can expect to get closer to $100,000 all-in.
Now RED have announced a smaller 3,000 pixel wide version (a mere 5 mega-pixel!!), called RED Scarlet which should retail at about $3,000. Taking into account lense costs, light accessories, storage and Gates housing (when they get round to producing it), this should price a complete underwater filming rig at around $20,000.
Oh, did I mention it can film at 180 frames per second?
Yeah – bring it on!!
Visit RED’s site
New Gear
March 9, 2008
Click for a 2010 update to this post on Sony EX1 and Gates housing.
Although the Panasonic AG-DVX100 is an amazing piece of kit, award-winning, reliable, feature-rich and cost-effective, naturally I am keen to upgrade my setup to HD format to take advantage of the benefits of wide screen (not to mention increasing the rate I can sell clips for on iStock….). Actually when I bought the Panasonic I was considering the HD options then but prices were significantly higher than I thought wise to spend on my first camera. Now, nearly two years later its another story and below is my current choice for putting together an underwater HD video package.
the main criteria for my existing Panasonic/Equinox setup was the choice of camera, specifically the lens manufacturer and while I am still a huge fan of Leica lenses (used by Panasonic), I am now more inclined to put the housing manufacturer at the top of the list. In this field, there is in my mind one undisputed leader…Gates Housings.
First choice – Canon XL-H1 with Gates Housing (from $17,500)
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| The Canon XL-H1 camcorder and 20x HD video zoom lens with superior Canon optics provide professional level shooters with a low-cost 1080i resolution option for ENG, documentary and reality TV production. Filmmakers will also appreciate the extensive cine’ controls and 25 frame option the XL-H1 camcorder offers.The camera offers uncompressed HD-SDI and SD-SDI output for seamless integration into broadcast studios or high quality image transfer to non-linear editing systems. The Genlock feature allows studios to easily synchronize camera settings across multiple camcorders. Real SMPTE time code input and output allow for streamlined tape and edit management. This camera is fully capable of recording in standard definition DV format as well. |
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| The Gates XL-H1 housing is the choice of professionals for serious underwater HD imaging. The 2.5in/64mm colour monitor is standard with an optional upgrade to the big 4.1in/104mm monitor. Bayonet mounted ports allow quick change between Flat, Dome and Super Wide enabling the clearest, sharpest images – a necessary requisite for any HD endeavor. Adjustable handles provide perfect grip and easy access to critical functions like white balance, iris, manual focus and ND Filter. |
Second choice – Panasonic AG-HXV200 with Gates Housing (from $12,000)
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| The Panasonic AG-HVX200 answers the demands of the professional HDTV photographer with a compact and feature packed acquisition tool. The camera is compatible with DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO25 and consumer DV recording standards. It uses 3 wide aspect CCDs for true 16:9 recordings. It has a wide angle Leica Dicomar 13x Zoom lens with advanced glass coatings. The most significant advance is that it uses the P2 memory cards for recording. This disk based recording medium makes the video immediately accessible to non-linear systems leaving behind a digitizing process that tape always required. |
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| Engineered for the working professional the HVX200 is a comprehensive inventory of features for serious underwater imaging. Adjustable handles provide perfect grip and easy access to critical functions like white balance, iris, manual focus and user presets. Bayonet mounted ports allow quick change amongst Flat, Domed and Super wide Angle enabling the clearest, sharpest images possible – a necessary requisite for HD endeavors. The HVX200 is classically Gates: durable “bulletproof”machined aluminum and 100% reliabl, mechanical controls. |
Whichever way it goes, look out for new HD footage from www.bb-films.com in 2009!
